Interfaith Fellows 2023-24

Our 2023-24 Interfaith Fellows recorded videos about their experiences.

Sophia Bloch ’24

Sophia is a senior Religion major from Boulder, Colorado. On campus, she is deeply involved in Jewish student life and has formerly served as the president of the Jewish Student Organization. After leaving St Olaf, she hopes to attend divinity school and pursue a career in chaplaincy. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and rock climbing.

Mary Fangman ’24

Mary Fangman (She/Her) is a Senior Political Science Major. Coming from Rhode Island (the origin of the American concept of the separation of Church and State), Mary has always been interested in the intersection of religion, faith, and civil governance. While Mary identifies as non-religious, she has been inspired by growing up in an interfaith family throughout her life. Mary has previously worked on other interfaith projects connecting Christian, Jewish, and Muslim teens internationally through Hands of Peace to develop compassion, empathy, and cooperation between these groups. Her hobbies include baking, reading, and playing with her cat.

Carly Anderson ’24

Carly (she/her) is a senior studying Psychology with concentrations in Neuroscience and Public Health Studies. She grew up in the Chicago area. Carly is interested in religion and its relationship to wellness and community. Something she is particularly looking forward to this year is turning the Death Café event into a series with the center. Her hobbies include reading, running, playing with her dog, and volunteering in the community. After graduating from St. Olaf, Carly plans to work as a research assistant for two years and then attend graduate school.

Bobby Byrne ’24

Bobby is a Senior Environmental Studies major with a Statistics and Data Science Concentration. He is from Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is interested in the different relationships between Christian denominations as well as with other religions. In the future, he hopes to work in conservation or soil science somewhere in New England. His interests include languages, rock climbing, and reading. He is excited to learn the different ways that people experience and participate in religion.

Grace Tillmann ’24

Hello! My name is Grace Tillmann (she/her) and I am currently a senior sociology/anthropology and religion double major at St. Olaf. While I’m not entirely sure what I’ll end up doing after I graduate in the spring, I would love to enter into social work of some kind, particularly with children or with people experiencing addiction or working through substance use or mental health disorders. If that doesn’t work out, I’d love to do some fieldwork or research on religiosity in rural areas, or religiosity as it relates to and interacts with political beliefs and activity! As an interfaith fellow for the Lutheran Center, I’m most excited to see how my interdepartmental passions and pursuits and work will serve a variety of people and groups on campus, and for the different connections and relationships I’ll build at the Center.

Tove Trelstad-Larsen ’24

Tove (She/They) is a senior Religion and Gender and Sexuality Studies major from Tacoma Washington. During travels in high school, Tove gained a deep interest in religion, and even attended Lux Theological Institute for Youth at Monmouth College. Since then she has nurtured a passion for interfaith dialogue and cooperation, as well as the intersection of religion and queerness. In her church back at home, St. Marks Lutheran Church by the Narrows, she has served as an intern and is honored to have helped develop the Reconciled in Christ program there. Tove is extremely excited to foster interfaith dialogue at St. Olaf this year and looks forward to learning more about interfaith work.

Elizabeth Schoen ’24

Elizabeth Schoen (she/her/her) is a senior religion and English major. She has a passion for interreligious dialogue and loves studying women writers and their relationship with God as well as her work as a disability advocate. When she is not reading and researching or working in the Lutheran Center, she enjoys singing in the Chapel Choir and Spiritus Novus. As well, as leading the Student Congregation Council as their president. Elizabeth also loves playing with her guide dog Eva, and watching the latest masterpiece mystery

Kathleen Hoiriis ’24

Kathleen Hoiriis (she/her) is a senior from Minnetonka, Minnesota, majoring in Sociology/Anthropology and Asian Studies. She is excited to have productive discussion on the importance of spiritual wellness in our lives in the Lutheran Center!

Gloriana Ye ’24

Gloriana Ye is a senior nursing major. She is enthusiastic about community engagement and interfaith conversation. She loves to read and do outdoor activities.